Have you or someone you love been involved in a motorcycle crash that was caused by a negligent motorist?
These crashes are often serious, resulting in life-changing injuries that require long-term treatment.
At the law offices of Greg Monforton & Partners, our experienced Windsor motorcycle accident lawyers are prepared to fight for compensation for those injuries – including any costs that are associated with your recovery and rehabilitation. The initial consultation is free, and you are not obligated to hire our firm to represent you. We are not paid for our services unless we secure compensation on your behalf.
The licenced lawyers at our firm have obtained $300 million in compensation, including numerous recoveries for motor vehicle crash victims. This includes a recovery of $1,468,000 for a motorcyclist who injured his pelvis in a left-turn crash.
Every year since 2006, our founder Greg Monforton has been selected by his peers for the Best Lawyers in Canada and as a LEXPERT Directory leading practitioner in personal injury law.
We know the devastation that often follows a motor vehicle crash and are here to help during this difficult time. While we know compensation cannot erase what occurred, we know it is very important as victims look to get their lives back on track.
We offer 100 per cent free consultations. Call today for assistance. (866) 320-4770
How Our Firm May Be Able to Help You
The aftermath of any type of major motor vehicle accident can be overwhelming and chaotic. This is particularly true after a motorcycle crash, as injuries from these situations are often quite severe.
Dealing with injuries, property damage, and insurance companies is typically too much for an accident victim to handle alone. When an insurance adjuster approaches those involved in a crash, his or her job is to obtain information that will be used AGAINST the victim. The insurance company is looking to build a case for denying your claim or offering you much less compensation than you need.
Consulting a barrister can be an important step after a motorcycle crash. Those who work with a lawyer often recover more compensation compared to those who do not.
Far too many accident victims find themselves struggling to handle the complexities of their collision case without professional help. With years of experience in motor vehicle accident litigation, our lawyers understand what it takes to achieve success and obtain compensation. We want you to be focused on your health and medical treatment. If we validate your claim and you hire our firm, you can leave the investigation and negotiation to us.
Client satisfaction is our top priority, and you can find out what many of our satisfied clients had to say on our client reviews page.
Greg Monforton & Partners. Licenced. Local. Lawyers. Call (866) 320-4770.
How Do I Know if I May Be Eligible to File a Claim?
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash involving a car and you believe the driver was negligent, you should strongly consider giving us a call to schedule a free legal consultation. In this meeting, our Windsor-based motorcycle accident lawyers can discuss what happened and whether you may have the basis for a claim.
There are many factors we may need to consider as to whether you may have a case, particularly how the accident happened, the injuries you suffered, evidence you collected, and more. We need to determine if we will be able to prove negligence, which means a failure to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to others.
Our experienced lawyers are prepared to manage claims involving many different types of motorcycles, including:
- Sport Bikes (Kawasaki Ninja, Suzuki GSX, Yamaha YZF)
- Cruisers (Indian, Harley Davidson)
- Off Road (motocross, enduro, trial)
- Touring (Ducati ST4, BMW K 1200)
- Chopper (custom designer)
- Scooters (Vespa, Lambretta)
Compensation for a Motorcycle Crash Victim
At Greg Monforton & Partners, our goal is to recover maximum compensation for your damages, particularly the medical expenses you have incurred to treat your injuries. This may include the cost of:
- Treatment in the emergency room
- Rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Cost of hiring a caregiver
- Medical testing
- Surgeries
- Medical equipment
Other damages that may be claimed after a motorcycle crash may include:
- Lost income
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Housekeeping and home maintenance expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
- Future lost income
- Punitive damages, in rare cases
The value of a claim depends on many factors, particularly the severity of the injuries you suffered, how you respond to treatment, the length of your treatment, and how your injuries affect your ability to go back to work.
Our lawyers are prepared to determine the full value of the damages you suffered and help you document them. We manage personal injury claims every day and we have extensive knowledge of all the ways an accident and resulting injury can affect someone.
Insurance Coverage for Victims
Motorcycle riders have the option of buying no-fault insurance coverage. This coverage provides benefits after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Even if you did not apply for this coverage, you may be able to file a claim against an immediate family member’s policy, such as your spouse’s or parent’s policy.
No fault benefits are governed by the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule, which outlines how much compensation you may receive. For example, under the law, you can receive compensation for reasonable medical bills, including bills for dental, optometric, chiropractic and ambulance trips.
Other no-fault benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Income replacement – If your injury prevents you from working, you may be eligible for 70 per cent of your gross weekly income. However, you cannot receive more than $400 per week. You will be required to prove you cannot do your essential job functions.
- Rehabilitation – This is compensation for reasonable and necessary services to help lessen the effects of your injury or disability.
- Caregiver benefit – This provides for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred to care for an accident victim who cannot engage in caregiving activities within 104 weeks of the accident. This benefit may not exceed $250 per week and $50 per week extra for each additional person who needs care.
The Windsor motorcycle accident lawyers at Greg Monforton & Partners are prepared to pursue all no-fault benefits that may be available. Our goal is to obtain the compensation you need to pay for medical treatment and other expenses you incur because of a crash.
Call today to learn more. Phone: (866) 320-4770
What if You Are in a Crash with an Uninsured Driver?
These situations can easily become complex, which is why you should strongly consider working with a lawyer as you seek compensation.
You may be able to pursue no-fault benefits after a crash with an uninsured motorist. The law also requires every driver, including motorcyclists, to purchase uninsured motorist coverage if they are injured in an accident with an uninsured motorist. This coverage can pay for up to $200,000 in damages in a crash with an uninsured motorist.
You can also sue the at-fault driver for damages, and he or she can file a claim with the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund to cover your damages. If the claim is approved, the fund may provide up to $200,000 in compensation, depending on the value of the claim. The at-fault driver is required to repay the fund. Failing to do so could result in licence suspension, seized property or garnished wages.
Can Motorcycle Passengers File Claims?
You should be able to seek compensation from the at-fault driver, as well as the motorcycle driver’s no-fault coverage. It may also be possible to seek compensation from your own no-fault coverage.
You may be apprehensive about seeking compensation from the motorcycle driver, particularly if this person is a friend or family member. However, you are not filing a claim against them, but their insurance policy.
Am I Still Eligible to File a Claim if I Was Not Wearing a Helmet?
As you may know, Ontario requires all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. The helmet must meet the standards set by one of the following organizations:
- Canadian Standards Association Standard D230 Safety Helmets for Motorcycle Riders
- Snell Memorial Foundation
- British Standards Institute
- United States of America Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 22
If you are injured in a crash while not wearing helmet, you can be sure the other side will attempt to use the helmet defence against you. In other words, they will argue your injuries were caused by not wearing a helmet, or at least they were made worse by not wearing a helmet. They want to use this as a reason to deny your claim or at least devalue it.
However, over the years it has proven difficult to use this defence to deny or devalue a claim. That means you should still be able to file a claim if you suffered injuries and someone else is at fault.
Even if the helmet defence is used against you but is unsuccessful, you may still bear some per cent of fault for the crash. Windsor applies a contributory negligence system when victims are partially to blame. Under this system, your compensation will be reduced based on your per cent of fault.
Learn more about this in a free consultation with a licenced Windsor motorcycle accident lawyer.
Call us today for legal help. Phone: (866) 320-4770
No-Contact Motorcycle Crashes
These are crashes that do not involve a collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle. Sometimes these crashes are caused by road conditions, or a negligent driver who caused the crash even though he or she did not crash into your motorcycle.
For example, maybe the road you were on had numerous potholes that should have been fixed and one of these potholes caused a crash. You may have a claim against the government entity responsible for maintaining this road.
If you were injured in this type of crash, and you have reason to believe another party may be at fault, such as for poor road conditions or driver negligence, give us a call today to discuss the situation.
These types of claims can be difficult to prove, which is why you need experienced legal help. Our firm can help determine if you may have legal options.
What is the Deadline for Filing a Claim?
There are several deadlines to be aware of after a motorcycle crash:
- Seven days to inform your insurance company
- 30 days to send an application for benefits
- 120 days to provide written notice of intent to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver
- One year to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver
- 10 days to provide written notice to the municipality you are filing a claim against (for claims against the government)
- Two years to file a lawsuit for wrongful death damages
It is important to act quickly after a motorcycle crash if you want to recover compensation. Greg Monforton & Partners is ready to take your call to determine how we can assist you.
Our firm has obtained millions on behalf of our clients.
Frequent Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are automatically at risk when they get on their bikes for a ride almost anywhere in Canada. Not only is the rider given minimal protection while operating the bike, other motorists may have a difficult time seeing him or her. The combination of a vulnerable rider with an unaware motorist can be fatal.
While a wide variety of factors typically contribute to a motorcycle accident, many crashes are caused by driver negligence. Examples of driver negligence include:
- Speeding
- Failure to see a motorcyclist in traffic
- Driver distraction
- Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Defects in the roadway
- Failure to yield to the right-of-way of a motorcyclist
If you or a loved one suffered an injury from a motorcycle accident, a Windsor motorcycle accident lawyer from Greg Monforton & Partners is prepared to fight for your rights today. We offer 100 per cent FREE case reviews to help determine if an injury victim has grounds to file a claim and we work on a contingency basis, which means we only charge for our fees and services if we obtain a favorable settlement or verdict for your case.
Motorcycle Crash Injuries
It is important to note that most motorcycles offer their riders very little in the form of protection from other vehicles and the elements. That is why serious injuries often result from these crashes – a seemingly minor crash in a car can be quite serious if you are on a motorcycle.
Riders may suffer from physical and mental injuries that may alter their lives permanently, especially those who travel without wearing additional protective gear such as a helmet, jacket, boots and/or gloves.
These are some of the most common injuries following a motorcycle accident:
- Broken bones
- Brain damage
- Internal injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Orthopedic problems
- Paraplegia
- Post-concussive syndrome
- Nerve damage
- Post-traumatic stress
- Concussion
- Road rash
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Wrongful death
Many of these motorcycle injuries will require an extensive recovery period. Long-term care and out-patient treatment are often needed for accident victims to regain bodily functions compromised in a crash. In these situations, medical bills and expenses often become astronomical. As such, it is essential to speak to an experienced lawyer learn more about your options and potential compensation.
Need Help? Contact Our Windsor Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
While our main office is in Windsor, Ontario, we offer professional legal representation to the following provinces and most cities in the surrounding regions:
- Essex
- Windsor
- Lakeshore
- LaSalle
- Tecumseh
- Leamington
- Sarnia
- Chatham
Our main office is at 1 Riverside Drive West, just a couple blocks from Windsor Police Service Headquarters.
If you do not know how you will be able to pay for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that resulted from your crash, help is available.
Call today to set up a free initial consultation with a Windsor motorcycle accident lawyer by calling (866) 320-4770. A member from our intake staff is ready to answer your call and you will be quickly connected to a lawyer to discuss your legal options.
The insurance company is working against your interests, and you need someone in your corner to help pursue the compensation you need.
Injured in a motorcycle accident? Call (866) 320-4770 for help.